Automatic ink-ribbon-reversing mechanism.



R. E. BENNER. AUTOMATIC INK RIBBON REVERSING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.6, 1908.

1941,554 Patented Nov. 30, 1909.

2 s EETS- 1.

R. E. BENNER. AUTOMATIC INK RIBBON REVERSING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED Arms, 1908.

941,554. Patented Nov. 30, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT orr'rcn.

RUSSELL E. BENNER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO IB'URROUGHS ADDING MACHINE COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

AUTOMATIC INK-RIBBON-REVERSING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Nov. 30, 1909. Application filed April 6, I908. Serial No. 425,471.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUSSELL E. BE NER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Ink- Ribbon-Reversing Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to mechanism for use in adding machines or other machines which employ an ink ribbon for printing purposes, which mechanism provides for automatically reversing the direction in which such ribbon travels step by step as the machine is operated.

One object of the present invention is to provide a form of mechanism which Wlll provide for the reversal taking placewithout imposing any strain upon the ribbon.

Thus with a ratchet and pawl feed mechanism the reversal will take place whenthe feeding pawl is being retracted.

Another object of the invention is to. provide aconstruction in which the takin effect of feed reversing devices as a resu tof diminution of the supply of ribbon on the unwinding spool will not rely upon support afforded by the ribbon alone as to the timing of the reversal. Thus where the ribbon spools have depressions into which certain parts controlling the reversing devices are ada ted to enter, the exclusion of such parts will not be eil'ected simply ply t e openings but rigid coverings will be provided or such openings so that the controlling parts cannot take effect to produce a reversal in the feed until the ribbon is en-' tirely unwound from one spool, such reversal being exactly timed in this connection and not likely to vary by reason of the ribbon yielding more or less where bridging an o ening in the spool.

Vi t-h these and incidental objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements whereof are recited in the appended claims and a referred form of embodimentxof which is il ustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in detail hereinafter.

Of said drawings Figure 1. represents a top planview of mechanism embodying the invention as applied to a machine on which printing ortype-writing is. done on the so-' called front strike order; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is an axial section of parts at the right of Figs. 1 and 2'; Fig. 4 is across-section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 with all but a fragment of the ratchet wheel omitted and the ribbon spool unwound; Fig. .4 is a section on line 4"4 of Fig. 4 on anvenlarged scale; Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a guard plate such as carried bythe ink-ribbon; F1 6 is a right-side elevation with parts bro en away and in section so that the view resembles 4 Fig. 4, though a different relative positibning of parts is shown as the ribbon spool is not ent rely unwound; Fig. 7 is a left-side in Fig. 6, with the ribbon represented as largely wound upon the spool Fig. 8 is an outer side view of one of thespools; Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective details-of the righthand feed pawl controller and feed pawl 're-' spectivel and Figsfll and 12 are similar views 0 the left-hand feed pawl and' its controller respectively.

The appliance ,may beused in various connections, as in typewriting machines and adding and listing machines, and for the purpose of the present specification may be considered as mounted upon the frame-work 7 of an adding machinei em-ploying a roller work respectively.

Passing now to the means for alternately turning, the spools, on said studs 70 are journaled a pair of bell-crank levers, the rearwardly and upwardly projecting arms 70 of which have jointed to them respectively links 70 extending downwardly and rearwardly and jointed at the rear ends to crank arms on a rock shaft70, oneof said crank arms 70 appearing in Fig. 6. Said rock shaft is oscil ated in every operation of the machine through any suitable con nections and will rock the bell cranks back and forth on the shafts 70. The forwardly extending arms 7 O of said bell cranks carry a rock rod 70 journaled in suitable bearings I x I a I elevat' n similar to the right-side elevation on said arms. On said rod are loosely mounted the pawls 71 and 72 which actuate the ribbon-winding ratchet wheels 71 and 72. These ratchet wheels are loosely mounted upon the long pivot studs 70 and the ribbon spools 71 and 7 2 are also loosely mounted upon said studs being removable endwise therefrom and adapted to be engaged with the ratchet wheels for rotation thereby,as for example, through the medium of a pin a secured in the ratchet and a socket b in the spool (Fig. 3).

The pawl 71 extends downward from the rock rod 70, whereas the pawl 72 extends upward from said rod, and controlling devices for the pawls are correspondingly arranged, such controllin devices, however, being secured to the r0 Thus rocking of the rod in one direction will disengage one pawl from its ratchet wheel and engage the other pawl with its ratchet wheel, and vice versa. The controlling devices referred to are in the form of arms 71 and 7 2 secured to the rod and formed with laterally turned lips 71 and 7 2 to engage behind the pawls respectively. Springs 71 and 72 lconnect the pawls with the controlling arms to provide for the drawing of either pawl into engagement with its ratchet through yielding connection which will permit the pawl to ride over the teeth of the ratchet wheel without rocking the rod The pawl-controlling arms above described carry studs 71 and 72 for cooperation with devices controlled by the ribbon. Thus the stud- 71, located in rear of the rod 70 (Fig. 7), is adapted to contact with a lip 73 on an arm 73 ournaled upon a stud 7 3 which is secured in the left-hand frame piece. When the pawl 72 is operating upon the right-hand ratchet wheel 7 2 and thus unwinding the ribbon from the left-hand spool and winding it on 'the righthand spool, the stud 71 clears the lip 73, but when the ribbon'h s been entirely unwound from the left-hand spool, said lip swings into the path of said stud so that when the rod 7O next swings down, carrying the right-hand pawl back over the teeth.

of the right-hand ratchet, said stud will encounter said lip and thereby said rod 7O will be rocked in a direction to draw the pawl 71 into enga ement with its ratchet and withdraw theright-hand pawl 72 from engagement with the ratchet 72*. It will be seen that the latter result ensues because the rod rocks in a direction to cause the lip 72 to act against the rear edge of the pawl 72.

The stud 72 on the right-hand pawl controller (Figs. 4, 6 and 9) is carried by a forwardly-projecting branch thereof and is adapted to cotiperate with a laterally- -turned lip 74 on an arm 74 swung from a stud 74 secured to the right-side framepiece. When the ribbon is bein unwound from the right-hand spool said stud 72 clears the lip 74 but when the ribbon has been entirely unwound the said lip swings into the path of the stud so when the rod 7O swings down, carrying the left-hand pawl back over the teeth of its ratchet, said stud 72 encounters said lip and the arm 72 is therefore swung'baek permitting the pawl 7 2 to engage its ratchet and at the same time withdrawing the pawl 71 from engagement with the left-hand ratchet by reason of the action of the lip 71 against the rear edge of said pawl.

The rock rod 7 0 and the controlling arms studs 75 and 76 secured to the arms 70- of the bell crank levers. Springs 75 and 76 connect the upwardly extending portions of said detent arms with said hell crank arms toyieldingly swing the main portions of the detent arms outwardly toward the pawl controllers. The latter carry studs 75 and 76 adapted to cooperate respectively with said detent arms, which are notched, as shown in 75 and 76, for engagement with said studs respectively. Thus when the left-hand pawl 71 is disengaged from its ratchet wheel the stud 76 is engaged with the notch 7 6 and the controlling arm 71 thus frictionally held against accidental displacement. This arm being secured to the rock rod, the other controlling arm will likewise be held against accidental displacement. When said pawl 71 is engaged with its ratchet and the other pawl 72 consequently disengaged, the stud 75 of the right-hand controller is engaged with the notch 7 5 and thus the rock rod and controlling arms are frictionally held against accidental displacement when this reverse adjustment has been effected.

The arms 73 and 74 are connected respectively by springs 73 and 74 with other arms 73 and 74 loose upon the studs 73" and 74 their spring studs 73' and 74 proa suitable dimensions to close segmental cavities 77 in the spools. When the ribbon has fully unmoand from either spool the plate will be lifted from the cavity as illustrated in Fig. 4 and this will permit the roller to .sition for causing a shifting drop into the cavity thereby swinging the arm 73 or 74, as the case may be, into poof the pawl controller associated therewith. The yielding connection between the roller-arms 73 and 74 and the abutment arms 73 and 74" provides for independent rise of the former as the ribbon roll enlarges (see Fig. 7) suitable stop studs 73 and 7 3" being provided to limit the swing of the'arms 7 5 and 74 to that just suflicient to clear the studs 71 and 72. When the ribbon is entirely unwound from a spool the stud 73 or 74: as the case may be is in contact with the shoulder of the associated abutment arm (Fig. 6) and then of course downward swing ofthe roller arm as the roller enters. the cavity causes outward swing of the abutment arm (Fig. 4). As it is desirable, particularly 1n an add.-

taut, the spools are arranged to turn under friction and in the present instance the ized to hold the spools on the studs 70. The studs are turned to reduced d ameter just back oftheir slotted heads, forming annular grooves, as shown'in Fig.- 3, and curved shoes 78'1ie in these grooves to hold the spools on the studs and also supply the desired friction to oppose turning of the spools, Said spools are formed with or have secured to them disks 79 to confine the ribbon and the shoes 78 are formed as dles or finger flanges on curved arms 78 pivotally mounted upon the outer sides ofrsaid dlsks (Fig.

I 8). Springs 7 8 connect the said arms with the disks and press the shoes against the bases of the annular grooves.

The arms 78 have laterally turned portions at their outer ends to constitute hanieces by which to manipulate them, and it will be seen that by pressing against said finger pieces the arms can be swung on their pivots against the stress of their springs and the shoes lifted out of the grooves. Then the spools can be slipped off the studs.

It will be seen that the above-described construction provides for the reversal taking place without strain onthe ribbon although under control thereof, for the disengagement of either pawl and accompanying engagement of the other pawl, always takes place during the retracting movement and so, when the ribbon is completely unwound,

thereis no chance for either pawl to be act-- is lifted there can be no movementof the arm 7 3 or 74, asthe case may be, no matter how little ribbon is left on the spool, and

then when the plate haslifted the arm gets While as thus pointed out the construction here shown and described is well calculated to fulfil the objects primarily stated, yet- 1t is to be-unde'rstood that the invention is not limited to this particular construction'but mg be carried out in other ways.

hat is claimed is:

1. Inapparatus of the character described,-.,-

the combination of ribbon spools and'ratchets, pawls for alternately o crating the latter, a reciprocating paw -carri'er, means one pawl from its ratchet while engaging the other pawl with its ratchet, and means controlled bythe ribbon for causing said ing and listing machine, to keep the ribbon pawl-shifting means to move relatively to the pawl;carrier through movement of the f latter which retracts the active means employed for such purpose are util- 1 W1. I 2. In apparatus of the character described,

- the combination of ribbon spools and ratchets, pawls alternately operating the latter, a reciprocating pawl carrier having a rock 'movably mounted thereon for disengaging rod, pawl shifters secured to the latter, and

means controlled by the ribbon for actuating said rod in retractlon of the carrier.

3. In apparatus of the character described,

the combination of ribbon spools and ratchets, pawls for'alternately operating the. latter, a reciprocating pawl-carrier having-a.

rock rod on which the pawls are loosely mounted extending in opposite directions, arms secured to send rod and adapted to engage the pawls respectively to disengage them from the ratchets, springs connecting.

said-arms with the pawls, and means controlled by the ribbon for actuating the rock rod through movement of the carrier which retracts the active pawl.

4. In apparatus of thecharacter described, the combination of ribbon spools and ratchets, pawls for alternately-operating thelatter, a reciprocating pawl-carrier having a rock rod on which the pawls are loosely mounted extending in opposite directions, arms secured to said rod and adapted to engage the pawls respectively to disengage them from the ratchets, springs connecting said arms with the pawls, and movable rib- 7 hon-controlled abutment piecesfor said arms respectively, either adapted upon exhaustion of ribbon from the associated spool to enter the path of the associated armto cause actuation of the rock rod through movement of the pawl-carrier which retracts the active pawl:

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of ribbon spools and ratchets, pawlsfor alternately operating the lat- -ter, a reclprocatlng pawl-carrier having a rock rod on which the pawls are loosely mounted extend ngin opposite directions,

I arms secured said rod and adapted to engage the pawls respectively to disengage .them from the ratchets, s rings connecting said arms with the paw s, and swinging abutment pieces for said arms respectively movable into and out of the paths of movement of said arms under control of the ribbon.

6. In apparatus of the characterdescribed, the combination of ribbon spools and ratchets, pawls for alternately operating1 the latter, a reciprocating pawl-carrier aving a rock rod on which the pawls are loosely mounted extending in opposite directions, arms secured to said rod and adapted to engage the pawls respectively to disengage them from the ratchets, springs connecting said arms with the pawls, means controlled by the ribbon for actuating the rock rod through movement of the carrier which retracts the active pawl, and detents for holdhaustion of ribbon from the associated spool to enter the path of the associated arm to cause actuation of the rockrod through movement of the pawl-carrier which retracts'the active pawl, and detents for the arms respectively to hold the same and the rock rod in the two difi'erent positions.

8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of ribbon spools and ratchets, pawls for alternately operating the latter, a reciprocating pawl-carrier having a rock rod on which the pawls are loosely mounted extending in opposite directions, arms secured to said rod and adapted to engage the pawls respectively to disengage them from the ratchets, springs connecting said arms with the pawls, movable ribbon-controlled abutment pieces for said arms resfpectively, each adapted upon exhaustion vo ribbon from the associated spool to enter the path of the associated arm to' cause actuation of the rock rod through movement of the pawl-carrier which retracts the active pawl, and pivoted spring-drawn cletent arms for engaging the pawl-controlling arms respectively.

9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of ribbon spools with peripheral cavities, a ribbon attached at opposite ends to said spools and carrying rigid closures for said cavities, alternately operable means for turning the spools step by step, and controlling devices for said means comprising members adapted to enter the spool cavities.

10. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of ribbon spools with peripheral cavities, a ribbon attached at opposite ends to said spools and carrying rigid closures for said cavities, alternately operable means for turning the spools step by step, and controlling devices for said means comprising pivoted arms yieldingly impelled toward'the spools and adapted to enter the-cavities thereof.

11. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of ribbon spools with peripheral cavities, a ribbon attached at o posite ends to said spools and carrying rigi closures for said cavities, alternately operable means for turning the spools ste) by step, and controlling devices for sair means comprising pivoted arms yieldingly impelled toward the spools and adapted to enter the cavities thereof, swinging abutment arms adapted to be acted upon by said pivoted arms, ratchets for the spools, pawls engageable with and disengageable from said ratchets respectively, an oscillating pawl-carrier, and pawl-controllers on said carrier cotiperating with said abutment arms.

12. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of ribbon spools with peripheral cavities, a ribbon attached at opposite ends to said spools and carrying rigid closures for said cavities, alternately operable means for turning the spools step by step, and controlling devices for said means comprising pivoted. arms yieldingly impelled toward the spools and adapted to enter the cavities thereof, swinging abutment arms adapted to be acted upon by said pivoted arms, springs connecting the latter with the abutment arms, ratchets for the spools, pawls engageable with and disengageable from said ratchets respectively, an oscillating pawl-carrier, and awl-controllers on said carrier cooperating with said abutment arms.

13. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of ribbon spools with periphera l cavities, a ribbon attached at opposite ends to said spools and carrying rigid closures for. said cavities, alternately operable means for turning the spools ste by step, and controlling devices for sai means comprising pivoted arms yieldingly impelled toward the spools and adapted to,

enter the cavities thereof, swinging abutment arms adapted to be acted upon by said pivoted arms, ratehets for the spools, pawls engageable with and disengageable from said ratchets respectively, a reciprocating pawl-carrier having a rock rod on which the and -ratchets, pawl-carrying pawls are loosely mounted, and arms secured to said rock rod and adapted to disengage the pawls respectively from their ratchets, said arms cooperating with the abutment arms for such purpose.

14. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of ribbon spools levers and pawls, duplex means for reciprocating the pawl-carrying levers, a rock shaft carried by the latter, means on the rock, shaft for engaging the pawls with and. disengaging them from the ratchets and ribbon-controlled devices for actuating the rock shaft.

15,. In apparatus of the character de- 15 scribed, the combination of a spool 1ournal stud having a reduced portion, a spool, and a spring-held arm on said spool and engaging the reduced portion of the stud.

16. In apparatus of the character de- 20 scribed, the combination of a spool ournal stud having a reduced portion, a spool, and a spring-held pivoted arm havlng a shoe occupying the reduced portion of the stud.

. v RUSSELL E. BENNER. Witneses:

J. G. VINCENT, R. S. MIELERT. 

